Phlebotomine Sandflies in Rural Locations in the State of Parana, Southern Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARY This study reports the fauna and frequency of sandflies in domestic animal shelters, residences and other ecotopes in rural areas of the municipality of Bandeirantes, Paraná State. Sandflies were collected twice in eight rural villages by using Falcon traps from 8pm to 6am in 2008. In these localities 4,790 sandflies were collected, which were represented by ten sandfly species, prevailing of Nyssomyia neivai and Nyssomyia whitmani species. It was observed that animal shelters are the domestic ecotopes where there is the greatest frequency of these insects. The localities where the collections were made had the environmental characteristics that allow the persistence of transmission of parasites from the American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Although the fauna and the behavior of sandflies species are similar in different localities, the method of controlling these insects should be adjusted to the environmental characteristics of each one of the most diverse endemic areas of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the municipalities of Paraná State.

Knowledge of the Population about Visceral Leishmaniasis Transmission in Endemic Areas near the Banks of the Mossoró River in Northeastern Brazil

“…Most respondents reported that they lived near areas of vegetation ( p < 0.05), and it is known that environments with remnants of forest and fruit trees provide suitable breeding sites for sand flies because the insects feed on fallen fruits [ 17 , 18 ]. Thus, the presence of this type of vegetation around the homes of residents is a factor enabling the spread of the vector in these areas.…”

“…The lack of sanitation in the study area is conducive to its maintenance as an environmental vector of VL because the garbage dumps and sewers exposed to the environment provide the type of organic matter that is a food source for immature and adult sand flies [ 17 , 18 ]. The presence of poor housing and environmental sanitation conditions are most likely associated with maintaining the endemicity of VL in these areas, given that the disease tends to affect disadvantaged populations [ 15 ].…”

“…This species easily adapts to urban environments, and its distribution pattern in urban areas can most likely be explained by the degradation of the environment and the presence of humans as a potential source of food [ 16 ]. However, other environmental features, such as the presence of domestic animals, fruit trees and unsanitary conditions can also increase the abundance of sand flies, as they provide feeding and breeding places for these insects [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Leishmania in synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus): new evidence for the urbanization of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

“…In other words, the presence of animal species different from rats was a protection factor against leishmaniosis in rats (OR= 0.01273 to 0.8341). A study on Nyssomyia neivai species broadly found in Paraná State (MEMBRIVE et al, 2004;DIAS-SVERSUTTI et al, 2007;SILVA et al, 2008;CERINO et al, 2009;CRUZ et al, 2013;MELO et al, 2013), performed in Ribeira Valley São Paulo State, examined 988 engorged females, and no rat blood was detected in the phlebotomines (MARASSÁ et al, 2013). According to Dias-Sversutti et al (2007), N. neivai and N. whitmani are opportunists and probably adjust their feeding habits based on the availability of hosts.…”

“…A recent study (CARVALHO et al, 2014) using ecological niche modeling predicts southward expansion of L. flaviscutellata in South America because of climate change. Several studies have investigated phlebotomine fauna in Paraná State (GOMES & GALATI, 1977;TEODORO et al, 1993;TEODORO et al, 1999;OLIVEIRA et al, 2000;DIAS-SVERSUTTI et al, 2007;SILVA et al, 2008;CERINO et al, 2009;REIS et al, 2011;CRUZ et al, 2012;SANTOS et al, 2012;MEMBRIVE et al, 2012;CRUZ et al, 2013;MELO et al, 2013); none reported L. (L.) amazonensis vectors. Taking into account two autochthonous cases (one human and one canine) of leishmaniasis by L. (L.) amazonensis in North Paraná, more studies about phlebotomine fauna must be made in this region, now using Disney traps with rodents as baits (DORVAL et al, 2007), because L. flaviscutellata is strongly attracted to rodents (LAINSON & SHAW, 1968;SHAW & LAINSON, 1972;CARVALHO et al, 2014).…”